starting the marine! :)

Ok, I have sucessfully transfered all my tropical fish to a new tank where they are loving it haha

Anyway, i have all the equipment set up for my marine now.

All I need is some advice, in a few days an RO unit shall be delivered and I will intall it.

1) Should I use my RO water and mix it with the correct salts? and should I do this in a container and pour it into my tank when it's ready?
I ask this because I plan to use Live Sand and Rock, mixing inside the tank would kill the bacteria?

2) I wish to make a wall out of live rock and like a little arch etc... ya know, climbing up the back... I will find a picture later of how i mean, anyway how would you recremend I do this? just stack the live rock and use some aquarium puty to help stop it to move?

3) Should I make the landscape with the live rock, while the water is in the tank? or add the water once Im happy with the LR?

Cheers

 

You want to add the LR to water. The longer the LR is out of the water the more die off will occur.

 

1 yes
2 just stack and restack to your liking it helps if you lay all the rock out and see what you have to work with.
3 I like to do rock sand then water bust must do this all on the same day

 

IMO, don't worry about the sand or rock dying, it will to some extent anyways. What I would do is fill your tank with RO/DI water then heat it up to proper temperature. Add the salt and get it to the proper salinity. Then you can add the rock and sand and aquascape until you are satisfied. Let the tank cycle for a few weeks at least and during this time test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and let nature do it's thing. Even if you went to the lfs or a friend's tank and got some live rock from them, unless you transported it completely under water, there will be die off and you will go through at least a small cycle. Don't rush this process, many people do and then post questions like, "Why are all of my fish dying?" or "Why can't I seem to keep corals in my tank?" The tank won't fully mature for many months and even years so just sit back and enjoy the process.

 

I usually make the water, then slowly add the sand then rock (if you put sand down first) water blows it everywhere!!! ha ha ha

 

lol put a plate on top of the sand and pour the water into the plate makes less of a mess

 

If you want to add the sand first, just put a plate on top and pour the water onto the plate.

 

Ha ha, I am not that coordinated, I could aim for the plate but the water wouldn't even touch it LOL. Half of the time I get more on the floor anyways, keeps my tile clean ha ha.

 

hmm wouldn't have thought to add the sand after the water, will it settle to the bottom quick? sounds like a good idea though, I will do the water, then sand then rock.

Is it right I should let it cycle for up to 3 weeks then start adding some CUC?

 

just a thought, my overflow box has a 25mm diameter hole and the return pump to the tank i think is about 12mm... would this mean my sump gets filled up to quick and over flow? :S i hope not, maybe i could restrict the overflow pipe?